Cruising Morning Star

The Route South

Friday, April 10, 2015

We stop at Vero Beach every year, usually twice - once going north and once going south. We have never stayed long, generally grabbing a mooring for the night and making a quick departure the next morning. But within the cruising community Vero has the nickname "Velcro Beach" because it is such a cruiser-friendly spot. So we decided to check it out this trip. We broke with tradition and took a slip for a few nights to make it easier to explore. Today we had lunch with Krogen friends Steve & Sandy, spending three hours catching up and swapping lies about boats and RVs. It was a great afternoon!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

After being stuck in one spot for over five months, we are finally back to traveling!

It's been quite a winter. Cindy had a knee replaced and Randy had his gall bladder removed. In the middle of all that there was plenty of physical therapy, boat projects and doctors appointments, (eye, orthopedic surgeon, general surgeon and family practice doc) for both of us. Of course interspersed with the drudge we made time for dinners with friends, or a glass (or two) of wine. Sometimes both. Oh yeah, we found time to sell the motor home too.

But Cindy has graduated from her physical therapy program and I've been signed off by the surgeon so, as Jackie Gleason used to say, we're outta' here!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Hope Town is a prosperous little community. Clearly, tourism is its main industry and there must be hundreds of rental houses and a couple of small hotels. Some are new and modern but the real plums are the old cottages which have been rehabbed.We are enjoying our stay in Hope Town. Its fun to revisit our old haunts and see what’s new in town, but we will be moving again soon.

Hummingbird Cottage is a rehabbed old cottage which does double duty as an art gallery. It is beautiful inside!

Hopetown Harbour Lodge has been here since before we started coming to the Abacos almost 40 years ago. 25 rooms in a wonderful setting. The pool and outdoor bar/restaurant sit on top of the bluff overlooking the beach and ocean reef.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

There was an open-air Catholic Mass under the trees at the water’s edge by the Town Dock.

The whole town came out for the Easter Egg Hunt, held after Sunday School let out, on “The Grassy Hill” next to the Fire Station. What great fun!

Now remember, this is an island and space is limited and can’t be wasted. The Grassy Hill does double duty as a public park complete with a memorial to those lost at sea in a ship wreck in 1942. But its original use was as a burial ground for 100 victims of the cholera epidemic back in the 1800’s.

There is a shallow area between Whale Cay and Treasure Cay which prevents passing through the area and requiring you to run through the notorious Whale Cay Passage, out into the Atlantic and back inside by Guana Cay. It is normally no big deal unless there is a “Rage” on…a condition caused by strong NE winds. While we didn’t have a rage, the wind has been blowing pretty good for over a week and there was a large swell to contend with. Fortunately not enough to be dangerous, just a bit uncomfortable.

Hope Town was the prize at the end of the trip and we picked up a mooring shortly after lunch.